Machine for placing rings on bobbins and the like



Se t. 23 1924.

w. T. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLAGING RINGS ON BOBBINS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IN V EN TOR.

'. ATTORNEY.-

Sept. 23 1924.

W. T. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLACING RINGS ON BOBBINS AND THE LIKE N m N UM s h 3% Q r E Q a m Riva s g s 7 EN k 0% \N Si mQ .hw mi w a .m B F .u i I.

Sept. 23 1924. 1,509,600

W. T. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLACING RINGS 0N BOBBINS AND THE LIKE Fllodfeb. 21. 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y Se t. 23, 1924. 1,509,000

w. T. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLACING RINGS ON BOBBINS AND THE LIKE E1106 Feb.- 21, 192-3 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 N V EN TOR.

. ITTORNIJY.

'Sept. 23 1924- LSO W. T. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLACING RINGS ON BOBBINS AND THE LIKE mm Feb. 21. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 5' Sept. 23 1924.

- 1,509,600 w. 'r. JACKMAN MACHINE FOR PLACING RINGS ON BOBBINS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

A TTORN E Y.

wmrnnor r. JACKMAN, or EAST oonrn'rn, VERMONT,

Mnonrnnron rLacrNe James on scheme AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 21, 1923f$eria1 No. 6%,368.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WINTHROP JAGK- MAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Corinth, in the county of Orange and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Machine for Placing Rings on Bobbins and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto improvements in machines for automatically placing expansible, split rings onbobbins and'the like, and broadly and generally consists of mechanism for feeding the rings from a suitably located and properly equipped hopper, by a step-by-step movement, to the receiving station, a series of expanding and contracting spindles mounted for recipro cation and orbital movement, each of said spindles being capable of taking a ring at said receiving station, and carrying said rin g'to the delivery station, meanwhile expanding the ring, spacer mechanism for adjusting the ring circumferentially so that the joint between the ends of the ring is located in an unvarying, predetermined position, spacing and setting mechanisms for forcing the ring from its spindle and placing and properly locating or spacing the same on the bobbin, mechanism for receiving, carrying, and intermittently rotating said bobbin, to the end that the rings shall be set thereon with their joints in offset relationship, means for resetting the rin feeding mechanism by hand in the event t e feeding operation be interrupted by reason of the failure, of the spindle at the receiving station to take a ring, means to adapt the spacer mechanism for handling one or more rings, means of adjustment whereby bobbins of different lengths can be accommodated "and rings successfully placed thereon,

and suitable driving mechanism, together with such other adjusting features, and

parts and members as may be neccessary or desirable in order to render the machine complete in'every respect, all as hereinafter set forth. This ringing machinenlay be constructed to handle and apply different numbers of split rings to'one or more bobbins at each complete cycle of the machine. In the present construction three rings are set on each of two bobbins at eachcomplete cycle.

by each and .in connection with each is repeated by and in connection with that which follows. Starting at what is termed the receiving station, one of the six spindles receives a ring and is partially expanded at that point, and when the spindle has passed through one-sixth of its orbit the same is fully expanded and expands the ring carried thereby. At the end of another onesixth of the aforesaid orbit the spindle arrives at what is termed the delivery station and the expanded ring on said spindle is forced from the latteronto the bobbin which is in position to receive the same.

Before arriving at the delivery station the ring is adjusted circumferentially to locate the joint therein in a predetermined position. Finally, the aforesaid spindle moves through the remaining one-half of its orbit, from the delivery station to the receiving station, and during such movement is collapsed and thereby made ready, by the time said receiving station is reached again, to

take another ring. As soon as the first ring is set on the bobbin, said bobbin has imparted thereto one-third of a revolution consequently, when the next ring is ,set thereon, the joint in said last-named ring is in proper oflset relationship to the joint in said first-named ring, and so in regard to the third ring which is set on the bobbin. Furthermore, the second ring is spaced the proper distance from the first ring, and the third ring is spaced the proper distance from the second ring. After the third ring has been set on the bobbin the latter isrethe spindles is advanced and retracted. 1 The turret turns on its axis only when the carriage and spindles are in retracted position.

Bobbins and like articles or objects. used in the spinning and kindred arts are provided externally, usually at their large ends, with one or more rings, three of such rings being most. generally employed. Re-

silien't, split rings are used for this purpose in order that, when they are vforced into place on the bobbin, they will contract and There are six spindles, and the work done to preclude the danger of dislodgement' or bobbins by a combination of machine andhand operations, involving some considerable skill on the part of the operator, and the primary object of my invention is to set the rings on the bobbins automatically, or Without the aid of the operator except to place the bobbins in the machine and re-' move them therefrom.

In the old way, an operator after some three years experience is able to ring from .six'thousand to eight thousand bobbins per day, while with this machine twenty thousand bobbins per day can be ringed. A further object is, therefore, to produce a machine with which the operation of ringing bobbins is greatly enhanced so far as speed is concerned. Incidentally the ringing operation performed with my machine is more accurate than that performed in part by hand, as must necessarily be the case when a machine successfully supplants the hand.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which is capable of ringing bobbins of different lengths and which require different numbers of rings. In this connection it may be noted that bobbins at their large ends are quite generally of approximately the same diameter an require rings of one diameter only, although provision is made in this machine for handling rings of different diameters.

Still another object is to afford means for driving the machine from a single point or driving member, and so to synchronize the moving parts as to produce the desired results efiiciently and practically.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

A preferred embodiment of my invention, whereby I attain the objects and secure the advantages of the same, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I will proceed to describe the invention with reference to said drawings, although it is to be understood that the form, construction, arrangement, etc., of the parts in various aspects are not material and may be modified without departure from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a top plan of a ringing machine which embodies a practical form of my invention as aforesaid, the

erating mechanism; F ig. 3, a detail of the.

Geneva movement as viewed from the righthand side; Fig. 4c, a rear elevation of the upper portion of the ring-feeding mechanism; Fig. 5, a right-hand side elevation of such portion of said mechanism, with parts broken away; Fig. 6, a front elevation of the carriage-operating cam; Fig. 7, a seetional detail of one of the ring agitators; Fig. 8, a front elevation of said machine; Fig. 9, a vertical, transverse section through said machine, taken on lines 9-9, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 1; Fig. 10, a detail of the adjusting members for the carriage-operating link, as viewed from the rear, and with parts broken away; 11, a longitudinal section through a portion of the carriage, turret, and other parts of the machine, taken on lines 1111, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fi 15; Fig. 12, an end elevation of the hea of a bobbin which is equipped with three rings; Fig. 13, a side elevation of said head before the rings are applied thereto; Fig. 14, a side elevation of said bobbin and rings; Fig. 15, an end elevation of and partial transverse section through said turret and parts and members carried thereby and closely associated therewith, taken on lines 1515, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 11; Fig. 16, an operative view of one of the ring-joint spacers; Fig. 16, a longitudinal section through one of said joint spacers; Fig. 16, a sectional detail showing the means by which the j oint-spacers are yieldingly retained with their dogs in the path of the associated cam; Fig. 17, a right-hand elevation of the tube-race and cross section through the ring spindles, taken on lines 17-17, Fig. 11; Fig. 18, a bottom plan of the cone-ejector cam; Fig. 19, a left-hand side elevation of the lower portion of the ring-feeding mechanism and cer tain closely associated parts; Fig. 19, a cross section looking down, on lines 19 .19, Fig. 19; 20, a transverse, vertical section through that portion of the ring-feeding mechanism that is illustrated in Fig. 19, and through said closely associated parts, being taken on lines 20-20, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in said last-named view; Fig. 21, a top plan of a portion of said ring-feeding mechanism; Fig. 22, a plan similar to that shown in the preceding view, but illustrating the operation of the parts; Fig. 23, a central, longitudinal section through one of the ring spindles, an intermediate portion of such spindle being broken out and a portion of the cone broken away; Fig. 24, a

right-hand end elevation of said spindle; Fig. 25, a top plan, with parts broken out, of the ring-spacing and ring-setting mechanism or mechanisms, and of a portion of the bobbin-actuating mechanism; Fig. 26,

a front elevation of certain of the parts and members which appear in Fig. Fig. 27, a right-hand. end elevation of parts and members' shown in Fig. 26, the table being in section; Fig. 28, a longitudinal vertical section through said ring-spacing and ringsetting mechanisms, on lines 28- 28, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, Fig.'25; Fig. 29, a sectional detail through the frame of the machine at the right-hand front corner, on lines 2929, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, Fig. 8; Fig. 30, a side elevation of the three-ring spacer; Fig. 31, a right-hand side elevation of the spacer box with parts'broken away, and, Fig. 32, a rear and elevation of, a two-- ring spacer. a

The first six views and Fig. 8 of the drawings are all drawn to the same scale, so also are Figs. 7, 9, 10, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29. but

on a larger scale than those in .the first group, while on a still larger scale are Figs.

11, 15, 16, 16, 16", 17, 18, 19, 19 20, e1, 22, 30, 31, and 32, and on the largest scale of all are Figs. 12, 13, 14, 23, and 24.

The directions of moving parts are indicated where practicable by arrows other than those .of which mention has heretofore been made. In Fig. 1 a bobbin is represented bydotted lines at a. This bobbin is shown in full in Fig.14. g

This machine is designed to place on the head of a bobbin, such as is shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, three split rings,'and to locate such rings equidistant apart longitudinally of said head and with the joints therein equidistant apart circumferentially of said head. The bobbin head is represented at 1 and the rings at 2, the joints in said rings being indicated at 3. The head 1 is provided initially with three exterior, annular grooves 4 which are equidistant apart, to receive the rings 2. In order to set the rings 2 in the grooves 4, it is necessary to expand each ring until it'has aninterior diameter that approximately equals the exterior diameter of the head 1, and to force such ring onto said head the required distance to enable the ring to contract into one of the grooves 4, the first ring being located in the innermost groove, the second ring in the intermediate groove, and the third ring in the outermost groove. Be-

"fore the rings are thus set theymust'be adjusted .circumferentially so that they are presented with their joints in a uniform manner or always in the same position to the bobbin head, to the end that the bobbin can have imparted thereto one-third of a ber of rings 2.

revolution after the first ring has been set, and another third of a revolution after the second ring has been set, and thus properly space said joints apart circumferentially or cause them to be so spaced' The head 1 might have less than three gooves 4 therein, and thus be adapted to receive aless num- Seldom is a bobbin provided with more thanthree rings.

The lower or main supporting frame of this machine consists generally of a table 5 supported on left-hand and right-hand end uprights or legs .6 and 7, respectively, said legs being connected a short distance above the portions of the same that rest on the floor bya pair of longitudinally-extending tie-beams 8.. A main driving shaft 10 is provided for the machine and extends longitudinally thereof and beyond the leg 6. The shaft 10 is driven, from any suitable source of power, by means of a belt (not shown) applied to apulley 12 mounted on the protruding, left-hand terminal portion of said shaft and adapted to be secured thereto and released therefrom by means of a friction-clutch represented at 13. The shaft 10 is provided beyond or to the left of the pulley 12 with a hand-wheel 14 by means of which said shaft can be rotated should occasion require. A pinion 16 is secured to the shaft 10 at the right of the friction-clutch 13. Journaled above the tabie 5, in-bearings 18, 19, and 81, Figs. 1, 8. 9, and 11, in approximately the central, longitudinal, vertical plane of the machine, is a shaft 21, and journaled in suitable bearings below said table and directly beneath said first-named shaft, at the left-hand end of the machine, is a shaft 22. Secured to the shaft 22 is a crank gear 23 which intermeshes with the pinion 16. A Geneva wheel 24- is secured to the shaft 21, and the gear 23 is provided with a pin25 to actuate said wheel in the customary manner. The Geneva wheel 24 has six arms, consequently said wheel has imparted thereto one-sixth of a revolution at each revolution of the gear 23, and has the same number of intervening dwells. A transverse shaft 26 is journaled in suitable bearings on the inside of the leg 6, and secured to this shaft is a worm-wheel 27. A worm 30 is secured on the shaft 22 and intermeshes with the wormwheel 27-see Fig. 9. The pinion 16, gear 23, and Geneva wheel 24, as well as the pulley 12 and the hand-wheel 14, are at the left beyond the leg 6. A bevel-gear 31 is secured to the shaft 26 behind the frame.

The shaftflO is journaled at the left-hand terminal in a bearing 32, Fig. 9, and at the righthand terminal in a bearing 33 provided in the leg 7, as shown in Fig. 8. A bearing for the shaft 22 appears at 34, and bearings for the shaft 26 appear at 35-35, in Fig. 9. A ring chute 36 is erected on the table 5,

and said chute is braced from said table by means of an oblique angle-iron 37, the latter in turn being partially supported from said table by means of a' vertical angleiron 38. Extending rearwardly from the angle-irons 37 and 38 at their bases are bearing brackets 39 and 40, respectively. Journaled in the bearings provided at the rear ends of the brackets 39 and 40 is a horizontal shaft 41, Secured on the shaft 41, at the left of the bearing part of the bracket 39, is a bevel-gear 42 which intermeshes with the bevel-gear 31. 'A pulley 43 is secured on the shaft 41 inside of the bearing arm 40.

Secured to the chute 36 at the top is a ring hopper 44, the bottom of said hopper inclining upwardly and to the left from said chute. Also secured to thechulte 36 at the upper terminal thereof, but below the hopper 44, is a feed-roll case 45. A shaft .46 is journaled in the chute and case, and extends to the left from said case. Mounted on and secured to the left-hand terminal portion of the shaft 46 is a pulley 47 which is located directly above the pulley 43, and said pulleys are connected by a belt 48.

A horizontal shipper bar 49 is slidingly arranged "in the leg 6 and a lug 50 which extends rearwardly from the leg 7. The bar 49 extends to the left beyond the leg 6, and has secured to such protruding terminal the head of a clutch-fork 51 by means of which the clutch 13 is operated. The table 5 is provided with a lug 52 at the left of the lug 50, and set in said lug is a horizontal, rearwardly-extending stud 53, upon which is loosely mounted a segmental-i ar 54. The segmental-gear 54 is provide with an upwardly-extending lever or handle 55. Rack teeth 56 are cut .in the top of the bar 49 in position to intermcsh with the teeth of the segmental-gear 54, which latter is located above said bar;

When the handle is actuated to the left, the segmenta -gear 54 carries the bar 49 in the same direction, and causes the clutch 13 to be operated in a manner to bring about the disengagement of the pulley 12 from the shaft 10, so that the former revolves freely without said shaft; and, when said handle is actuated inthe opposite direction, said segmental-gear carries said bar in the opposite direction, and causes said clutch to be operated in a manner to bring about the connection of said pulley with said shaft, so

that the latter rotates with or is rotated by theformer. -The clutch 13 and the o erating means therefor are generally 01 and well known both structurally and operae;- en the shaft 10 is in motion, the shaft 22 is driven therefrom through the medium of the pinion 16 and the ar 23, and the shaft 21 is intermittently 'ven therefrom through the medium of the pin 25 and the Geneva wheel 24 At the same time the shaft 26 is driven through the medium of the worm 30 and the worm-wheel 27, and the shaft 41 is driven through the medium of the bevel-gears 31 and 42. The shaft 4] drives the shaft 46 through the medium of the pulleys 43 and 47 and the belt 48. A ringer cam 57 and a carriage cam 58 are secured to the shaft 26, intermediate of the bearings 35, and driven by said shaft. There is a groove 59 in the face of the cam 57, and a groove 60 in the face of the cam 58.

A [transverse shaftor rod 61 is supported by the tie-beams 8 below the cams 57 and 58, and loosely mounted on said rod are cam arms 62 and 63, the former extending upwardly in front of the cam 57, and carrying on the backside thereof'a roller 64 which is in the groove 59, and the'latter extending upwardly in front of the cam 57, and carrying on the backside thereof a roller 64 which is in the groove 60.

The table 5 is higher at the left-hand than it is at the right-hand end, and a carriage 65 is mounted to slide longitudinally on the higher part of said table. The base of the carriage 65 has longitudinal edges that are beveled and received between an undercut flange 66 in frontand a gib 67 behind, the front edge of said gib being undercut in a similar manner to the back edge of said.

5 at the rear edge and extending to the right from the left-hand end thereof, and vertical bolt-s 70 which pass down through slots in the gib 67, one of which slots appears at 71 in Fig. 9, to be tapped into the table 5. The gib 69 and the bolts 68 and 70 function in the usual manner. On top of the'carriage'65 is a lug 72, and extendin rearwardly from said lug is a stud 7 3. fioosely mounted on the stud 73 is an eccentric '74 which is received in a corresponding recess in a link 75, and has a flange that bears against the backside of said link, as best shown in Fig. 10. The left-hand terminal of the link 75 is mounted on the eccentric 74, and the right-hand terminal of said link is pivotally connected at 76 with the upper terminal of the lever 63, such upper terminal being forked to receive said link. The eccentric 74 is provided with a radial arm or handle 77 to facilitate adjusting said eccentric on the stud 73. A bolt 78 is tapped into the upper edge of the link 75 and arranged when t1 htened to bear 'inst the peri hcry of e eccentric 74, sai bolt being r ial to the true center of said eccentric. When the bolt 78 is loosened, the eccentric 74 can be partially rotated on the stud 73 to inincreasing thelength of the stroke imparted by thelever 63 to'the carriage 65. After the eccentric 74'is adjusted the same is secured by tightening the bolt 78.

There are slots 79 and 80 in the table 5 and the carriage 65, respectively, through which the lever 63 extends, said slots being of suflicient length to enable said lever to be oscillated to the extent required. The cam 58 is rotated by the shaft 76, and, through the medium of the roller 64, oscillates the lever 63., and the latter causes the carriage to reciprocate, acting through the link 75 and the pivotal connections between said link and said lever and between said link and the lug 72.

Reference is now to be had more particularly to Figs. 11, 15, 16, 16 16 17, and 18. At the right-hand end of the carriage 65 is arflange 82, and bolted at 83 to this flange is a tube-race 84. There is an annular groove 85 in the tube-race 84, such groove being "IF-shaped in cross section, and opening through the right-hand face of said tube-race, adjacent to which face the wider portion of said groove is located. Securely bolted at 86 and 8.6 respectively, to the right hand face of the tube-race 84 are collars 87 and 87 respectively. The collars '87 and 87 are in the same vertical plane and spaced apartin such planeto form an annular slot 88 which is of the same size and diameter as the narrower portion of the slot 85. Secured to the tube-race 84, in the bottom part of the slot 85and against the side of said slot which defines the innermost boundary thereof, is a cone-ejector cam 89. The exposed side of the cam 89 inclines from the rear end'to the front end of said cam in such a manner that-the former is- Wider than the latter. v

Keyed at 90 to the shaft 21 is a flanged collar 91, and secured to the right-hand end of said collar, where the flange is located, is

a turret 92. The turret 92 may be secured to the flange of the collar 91 by means of bolts 93 and nuts 94.- There are central openings in the tube-race 84 and the collar 87 to accommodate the shaft 21 and the collar 91. That portion of the shaft 21 which is adjacent to the right-hand end of the turret 92 is screw-threaded, as represented at 95, and on such screw-threaded portion of said shaft is a nut 96. The nut 96 is set up against the contiguous end of the turret 92, so that said turret is held against endwise movement between said nut and the collar 91, which latter isrigidly secured to the shaft 21.

The turret 92 has two sets of six radial arms at the outer ends of which are hubs 97. The hubs 97 incach set are equidistant apart circumferentially, and the axis of any hub in one set is in line with the axis of the corresponding hub in the other set. The

sets.

Extending to the right or forwardly from the corresponding end of the turret 92 are six hubs 98. The hubs 98 are spaced equidistantly apart circumferentially, and the axis of each is between the axes of the two most adjacent hubs 97. Within each hub 98 is a bushing 99 that projectsbeyond the left-hand end of said hub. A spacer dog 100 has a head 101 from the left-hand end of which extends .a spindle 102 that is receivable and journaled in the bushing 99. The head 101 abuts the right-hand ends of the hub 98 and bushing 99. The spindle 102 projects beyond the left-hand end of the bushing 99, and a cotter4pin 1103 passes through such projecting part of said spindle, and extends far enough on opposite sides thereof to engage'said end of said bushing. Thus the spindle 102 is'held in place in the bushing 99 by the head 101 and the cotterpin 103. The spindle 102 is free to rotate in the bushing 99. 101 at the right-hand end thereof is a spacerdog latch 104 which is in the form of a Secured to each head position relative to the split terminal of one of the spindles and, a ring thereon, there being a latch for each spindle.

The bearing 19 has a hollow member which extends to the left and forms what is termed a dog cam 105. The cam 105 behind has a recess 106 therein, and there is a bushing 107 in said cam.

The free terminals of the dogs ride on the cam and sequentially enter and leave the recess 106. The aforesaid free terminals may or may not contact with the bushing 107, accordingly as to whether or not there be a split ring onthe adjacent spindle, as will presently be made clear. When any dog 100 enters the recess 106, the head to which said dog is attached is rocked and with it the spindle 102 in. the bushing 99 therefor, and the latch 104 that is attached to said head is actuated thereby in such a manner as to carry the free end of said latch outwardly, and, when said dog leaves said recess, said head is rocked again, but in the opposite direction, and said latch is returned to its former or initial position. The dogs 100 are retained with their free ends in contact with the cam 105 and the bushing 107, or in readiness to contact with said bushing, by means of springs, one of which is clearly shown at 108'in F1g. 16". Each spring 108 is inside of one of the right-hand: hubs 97 superficially 'c0nsidered, and bears against said hub, and

said spring has'one end attached, to the cotter-pin 103 inside 'ofthe spindle 102 in which said cotter-pin is inserted, and the other end attached 'to the cotter-pin 103 outside ofthe spindle 102 in which said last-named cotter-pin-is' inserted, said spindles being 011 opposite sides of said hub. In the example shown in Fig. 16 the lefthand cotter-pin 103 is arranged with its head directedpinwardly, while the righthand cotter-pin 103 is arranged with its head directed outwardly, and opposite terminals of the spring 108 are attached to said heads. The spring 108 tends, therefore, to rotate both spindles 102 in the same direction, which is the direction to retain the dogs 100'in contact with the cam 105 and cause said dogs-to'enter the recess 107. The arrangement of the "cotter-pins and springs is duplicated for the other two pairs I of spindles 102. Secured by one of the bolts 65 to the carriage flange 82 is a rearthe six spindles (b) to which reference has been made comprises an expander tube/113, provided at the left-hand end with a head 114, an expander cone 115 at the righthand end of-a spindle or rod 116, and a bobbin-centering screw 117 tapped into the outer end of said cone. The tube 113 is bored throughout its entire length, and at the right-hand terminal of said tube the bore flares to receive the cone 115, and such terminal portion of said tube is longitudinally split, slitted, or slotted, as at 118, to enable expansion of said portion to take place when said cone is forced inwardly,

and contraction thereof to take place when said cone is forced outwardly. In the pres- .ent case there are three of the slits 118 which are equidistant apart and extend inwardly some little distance from the righthand end of the tube 113. The rod 116 is supported inbushings 119 and 120 in the tube 113, and said rod is provided at the left-hand end outside of said tube with a head 121. The periphery of the head 114 is slabbed off, as represented at 122. The tube 113 is receivable in two of the hubs 97 which have their axes in line with each other, and in the annular slot 88, the head 114'is receivable in the wider part of the slot 85 in thetube-race 84, and the head 121 with a portion of the rod 116 is receivable in the narrower part of said last-- named slot. The head of the screw 11? is of a size to be received in the bore through the bobbin head 1. The screw 11? is changed whenever necessary in order to enable the head thereof to fit the aforesaid bore, which here may vary in bobbins of different sizes. Secured to each tube 113 is a roll or collar 123, said collar being located on said tube between the two hubs 97 which support the same and in position to be engaged by the friction band 112.

It will be remembered that the shaft 21 is intermittently rotated by the Geneva movement. When this shaft is rotated it carries with it the collar 91, the turret 92, and the spindles which consist in part of the tube 113, said tubes'moving at their lefthand terminals in the slot 88, and the heads 114 and 121 and the left-hand terminal portions of the rods 116 moving in the slot 85. If, now, the ejector cam 89 be in the path of any head 121, said head is forced to the right by said cam and carries with it the attached and connected rod 116 and cone 115, thus permitting the split terminal ofthe tube 113 which was expanded by said cone to be contracted. It is to be assumed that, previous to the aforesaid movement imparted to the parts by reason of the contact with the cam 89 of the head 121, the cone 115 has been forced to the left to expand the split termina of the tube 113, and has carried with it the attached and connected rod 116 and head 121. The means by which the expanding operation is performed will subsequently be explained. It is to be understood that the depth of the narrow portion of the slot 85, the proportions of the cam 89, and Y the amount of longitudinal movement of the cone 115 and attached and connected parts are all of such relationship as to enable the desired results to be produced. As each collar 123 is caused to pass beneath and in contact with the friction band 112, by the rotary motion of the turret 92, said collar is caused by said band to revolve, such revolution being in the opposite direction to that in which said turret rotates, and to cause the tube 113 on which said collar is mounted to revolve with the latter. The length of time in which said collar 123 is in contact or frictional engagement with the band 112, or the amount of such frictional engagement, must be sufiicient to cause the tube 113 upon which said collar is mounted to make at least one complete revolution. In the present case each tube is caused to make several revolutions.

.The revolution of the tubes 113 on their axes, through the medium of the collars 123 and the band .112, is associated with the functions of the latches 104.

An opening 124, Fig. 17, is made in the tube-race 84, and extends from the wider portion of the slot 85 through to the left- 1 hand face of said race. The opening 124 is clrcular except where flattened to corre- 5 spond with the flattened part 122 of each of the heads 114, and said opening is slightly larger than any of said heads. The aforesaid flattened part of the opening 124 constitutes or forms the innermost part of the is periphery of said opening. Upon positioning any tube 113 with its head 114 in line with the opening 124, and turning said tube and head so as to cause theflattened part- 122 of the head to register with the flattened part of said opening, said head can be ner to that described for the removal of a spindle. It sometimes becomes necessary to remove and replace a spindle, in order to repair the same or for some other reason, and to this end the opening 124 is provided.

The opening 124 and the heads 114 are flattened in order to reduce to a minimum or practically eliminate any liability of accidental displacement through said opening of any spindle, inasmuch as some portion of the curved part of each head is most liable to be in engagement with the part of the tube-race which forms the straight edge of the opening 124, being inside of such part. Necessarily there must be a similar opening to the opening 124 in the flange 82.

The dwells of the Geneva movement occur while the right-hand end of one of the spindles b is at the rear end of the horizontal diameter of the circle or orbit described by such end, and the corresponding end of another of said spindles is at the front end of such diameter, the corresponding ends of two of the other spindles then being at 'points in said orbit above such diameter, and

the iorresponding ends of the other two spindles being at points in said orbit below said diameter. During these dwells the spindles are actuated to the right or ad vanced and actuated to the left or retracted 5 by the carriage 65, through the medium of the tube-race 84, the collars 87 and 87, and the heads 114, the tubes 113 sliding in the hubs 97. Each spindle receives a ring 2, while said spindle is located with its split 5 terminal at the rear end of the aforesaid horizontal diameter, on such terminal, and such location is termed the receiving station; and each spindle delivers its ring, or such ring is forced off of the split terminal of said last-named spindle onto the bobbin head 1, while the spindle is located with its split terminal at the front end of said diameter, and such location is termed the delivery station.

Positioned at the receiving station, with its axis in line with the axis of any ring spindle when located at such station, is an expanding plunger 125-see Figs. 1 and 20. The plunger 125 is arranged to slide in a safety plug 126, and the latter is supported in and by the ring chute 36 and a vertical plate 127. The plate 127 is bolted at 1.28 to the right-hand end of a member 129 which rests on the table 5 and is bolted thereto at 130.. The member 129 forms a part of the base of the chute 36, and extends to the right therefrom. I

The plug 126 has a flanged head 131 which is received in the opening prepared for the same in the chute 36. Normallythe flange of the head 131 is retained in contact with the right-hand side of the chute 36, by means of a spring 132 that encircles the plug 126 between said head and the plate 127, in which latter the tail-end of said plug is received. When the plug 126 is in normal position, the inner end of the head 131 is flush with the right-hand side of a vertical passage 133 formed in the chute 36 with the aid of a cover plate 134. When any ring 2 is in receiving position, it is in contact with the left-hand end of the head 131, and it is from such position that the ring is taken by one of the spindles, said head being chambered to permit the head of the screw 117, the protruding part of the cone 115, and a portion of the tube 113, which enter into the construction of the spindle, to enter. In the event the ring breaks, ams, or otherwise fails to become'properly located on the tube v113, the spring 132 yields and permits the plug 126 to be actuated to the right, thus preventing damage to the machine that otherwise would be liable to occur. It should be noted here that the split terminal of'each tube 113, near the leading end thereof, is grooved, as represented at 135 in Fig. 23, to receive, properly locate, and assist in holding in place the ring on saidtube.

The plunger 125 is provided at the outer end with a head 136, and a spring 137 encircles said plunger between said head and the outer end of the plug 126. The spring 137 normally retains the plunger 125 with its head 136 against the rear terminal of an expanding lever 138, and when thus positioned the inner end of said plunger is in the chamber in the head 131, in position to be contacted with by the head of the screw 117 of any ring spindle at the receiving station. The spring 137 yields in the event the plug 126 be forced outwardly.

Upon referring to Figs. 1, 25, and 26, it will be seen that the lever 138 is mounted on a vertical spindle 139, which spindle is journaled in a bearing 140 with which the table 5 is provided, said bearing extending through said table. The lever138 is secured to the upper end of the spindle 139 above the bearing 140, and a second expanding lever 141 is secured to the lower terminal of said spindle below said bearing. The lever 141 extends forwardly from the spindle 139 into the path of a block 142 which is secured, by means of a bolt 143, to the under side of a trip bar 144. A longitudinal slot 145 is provided in the block 142 to receive the bolt 143 and permit it to be adjusted longitudinally on the bar 144, in order that the movement impartedby said block to the lever 141 may be regulated.

' The right-hand terminal portion of the bar 144 is supported by and slidingly arranged in the top of the leg 7 beneath the table 5 and a short distance back from the front edge of said table. The left-hand terminal of the bar 144 is supported by the head of a bolt 146, which bolt passes upwardly through said bar, a spacer block 147 above said bar, that portion of a ring-setter slide 148 that is above said block, a spacer '5 to accommodate the block 147.

block 149 above said portion of said slide, a bar 150 supported on said slide and lastnamed block, and a slot 151 in a ring-setter guide 152as clearly shown in Fig. 28. There is a longitudinal' slot 153 in the table Rising from the slide 148 behind the guide 152 is a lug. 154, and pivotally connected with said lug at 155 is an approximately horizontal link 156. The right-hand terminal of the link 156 is mounted on the pivot 155, while the opposite terminal of said link is provided with a head 157 to the front side of which is pivotally connected at 158 the upper terminal of the cam lever 62. The lefthand terminal portion of the link 156, which passes through the head 157-, is screw-threaded to receive a nut 159 at each end of saidv head. By means of the nuts 159 the head 157 can be adjusted on the link 156 for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the stroke of said link, accordingly as said head be moved to the left or to the right on said link before being secured on said nuts.

By increasing or decreasing the stroke is meant, of course, the increasing or decreasing of the maximum limit of the thrust of the link to the right. This also applies to the adjustment which is provided between the lever 63 and the carriage 65.

The cams 58 and 59 are so constructed, related, and timed that, directly the cam 58 has caused the carriage 65 to be actuated into its most advanced position, the cam 59, acting through the roller. 64, the lever 62, and the head 157, causes the link 156 to be actuated tothe right, and said link carries with it the slide 148, andwith said slide the bar 143 through the medium of the bolt 146. The slide 148 carries with it the block 142, and the latter forces the forward terminal of the lever 141- to the i right, with the result that the lever 138',

throrgh the mediumof the spindle 139, is

actuated to the left and forces the plunger 125, against the resiliency of the spring 137, in the same direction. The inner terminal of the plunger 125 is then in contact with the head of the screw 117, and the inward movement of said plunger thereby forces the cone 115 into the tube 113 and expands the split terminal of said tube, the head 121 on the rod 116 with which said cone is connected being at this time located in the slot 85 behind or in a position where it is not interfered with by the cam 89. The expansion of the split terminal of the tube 113, produced in the manner just explained, causes the ring 2 which is now in the groove 135 on said terminal to be securely and tightly engaged b the expanded parts, and to be withdrawn rom the receiving station when said ,tube is next retracted. The plunger 125 causes the split terminal of the tube 113 to be only partially expanded, however, such terminal not being fully expanded until said tube has been moved, by the turret 92 actuated by the Geneva movement, from the receiving station through the following one-sixth of the orbital path of the tube, when the latter is in position to be fully expanded and to expand the ring 2 thereon. This action causes the ring to be gripped with suflicient force to enable subsequent actions, which are dependent on a rigid connection between the spindle or its tube and said ring, and on an open joint in the ring, to take place.

For the complete expansion just referred to an expander screw or bolt 177 is provided, the same being received in and supported by a bracket 178 that isrigidly' secured to the right-hand side of the-chute 36 and projects forwardly therefrom-ace Figs. 1, 8,'and 19. The bolt or expander 177 is positioned by the bracket 178, with the axis of said expander in line with the axis of a spindle located by the first dwell after leaving the receiving station. \Vhen .the spindles are next advanced, it being remembered that they are advanced and re tracted together, the head of the screw 117 of the spindle which is in line with the expander 177 encounters the left-hand end of said expander, which end projects beyond the corresponding face of the bracket 178, and said head with its cone 115 is forced to the left to the extent required fully to expand the split terminal of the tube 113, in i ing of said mug and proper locating o the joint 3 therein can take place. The amount of expansion of the parts provided by the expander 177 is increased or decreased by screwing said expander to the left on the one hand and to the right on the other hand. The expander 177 is provided with a set-nut 179 to lock the same in place af-- ter adjustment.

Returning again to the spindle while at the receiving station and after being par tially expanded by the plunger 125, it is to be noted that, upon this continued rotation of the cam 58, the carriage 65 is retracted and carries with it the spindles, including that which has just received the ring, and, upon the continued rotation of the cam 59, the link 156 is retracted, and with said link the intervening parts and members between the same and the block 1.42, with the result that said plunger is released to its spring 137 and thereby retracted. The spring'137 causes the plunger head 136 to be retained in contact with the lever 138, hence the retracting movement of the plunger 125 causes said lever and the lever 141 to be returned totheir former or initial positions, and said lever 1411 always to be in contact with the nose of the block 1 12. The block 14.2 naturally limits the outward movement of the plunger 125.

While the carriage and spindles are in retracted position, the Geneva wheel 24: is operatedand causes the turret 92 with said spindles to be rotated one-sixth of a revolution, after which the dwell occurs while complete expansion takes place with the aid of the expander 177. Twice more the spindles are carried through one-sixth of their circuitous path, advanced and retracted, and started through still another one-sixth of said path, before the spindle, which has received a ring and been partially expanded at the receiving station, and passed to the next station and been fully expanded, arrives in position to be retracted by reason of contact of the head 121 of said spindle with the cam 89, the ring having meanwhile been removed from the spindle in the manner yet to be explained. It is while the spindle is passing from the delivery station to the receiving station that its head 121 encounters and rides past the cam 89, and the cone 155 of said spindle is forced outwardly so that the split terminal of the tube 113 of said spindle can and does contract. B the time the spindle again arrives at t e receiving station it is contracted and ready to receive another ring.

it will be remembered t-hat the spindles Z) are rotated on their own axes by the collars 123 when the latter pass in contact with the friction band 112, and this during the time the dog 100 of the latch 101 that is associated with any given spindle is in the recess 106. While the dog 100 is in the recess 106, the latch 10% is caused to bear against the ring 2 on the spindle, being thus held by 'means of the spring 108 which acts on the spindle 102 that carries said dog and latch, with the result that, when the joint 3 in said ring arrives at said latch, the latter enters said joint and holds said ring, with the spindle 7) upon which the ring is mounted, against further rotation, on the spindle (b) axis, causing the spindle (b) collar 123 to slip or drag without rotation beneath the band 112. The engagement of the latch 104 with the ring occurs, in the present example, while the spindle b is being carried through the second one-sixth of .its orbital path, starting from the receiving station, or after the second dwell has occurred and before the third dwell occurs, and suliicient time elapses between said dwells, or while said latch is in contact with said ring, to enable the ring to have imparted thereto, from the band 112, at least one complete revolution, in order to insure the entrance of the free terminal of Said latch into theopen joint of the ring..

Regardless, therefore, of the radial degree of the 'oint 3 when it passes the second dwell, ti and said latch always leaves the same at a predetermined point in the arcuate path of the spindles. After this the ring has a predetermined amount of rotation. It follows, consequently, that the joint in each ring carried by each spindle finally arrives at the delivery station in a fixed or predetermined position radially, hence, in order to oifset the joints of the rings on a bobbin, it is simply necessary partially to rotate the bobbin between the ring-setting operations. Before the spindle arrives at the third dwell, the dog 100 rides out of the recess 106 onto the periphery of the cam 105 again, and thus causes said latch to be withdrawn from engagement with the ring and located entirely out of contact therewith, remaining in such position until said dog again enters said recess. The depth of the recess 106 is sufiicient, not only to permit the latch to engage the periphery of the ring, but also to enter the joint in said ring.

Before describing the ring-setting'mechanism in detail, I will describe the ring-feed ing mechanism, having special reference to Figs. 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 19 20,21, and 22.

The passage. 133 extends upwardly from the top of the table 5 to the top of the chute 36. This passage is of a size and shape which permits the rings 2 to descend therein in a vertical or upstanding posit-ion and one on topof the other. The leading end of each spindle b enters the passage .133 from the side opposite to that where the safety plug head 131 is located, and there is an opening in the cover 131 for such spindle end, the diameter of such opening and that in the chute 36 for said head being the same. The hopper 44 is supported from the chute 36 by means of a bracket 160, and the case 45 is bolted or otherwise securely attached to said chute, both the hopper and case being on the left-hand side of .the chute. A shaft 161 is j ournaled in the case 45 at rightangles to and above the shaft 46. Mounted on the shaft 161 to rotate therewith in the front part of the case 45 is a pair of feed rolls 162. Secured to the shaft 161 in the back part of the case 45 is a cam 163. J ournaled in and projecting into the back part of the case 45, directly beneath the shaft 163, is a shaft which is indicated by dotted lines at 164 in Fig. 4. Secured on the shaft 164 is a gear 165 which intermeshes with the gear 163, and secured on said shaft behind said first-named gear is a bevel-gear 166. Secured on the shaft 46 in position to intermesh with the bevel-gear 166 is a bevelgear 167. The pulley 47 is secured on the left-hand terminal portion of the shaft 46,

and on the right-hand terminal portion of said shaft is secured a sorter which consists of two large discs 168 separated by a small disc 169 all bolted together, substantially as shown in Fig.5.

The shaft 46, when driven by the belt 48 and the pulley 47, rotates the sorter above described, and causes the feed rolls 162 to be revolved, through the medium of the bevelgears 167 and 166, the shaft 164, the gears 165 and 163, and the shaft 161. The revolving feed rolls 162 agitate the rings in the hop er 44 and assist in carrying said rings or irecting said rings downwardly into a slot or passage 170 in the case 45, while the sorter discs guide, direct, and urge said rings downwardly into and through the passage 133. The passa e 17 0 receives the rings in vertical position from the feed rolls 162. The bottom of the passage 17 0 inclines downwardly and rearwardly, as clearly shown at 171 in Fig. 5, ,to meet the front edge of the passage 133 at the top. A plate 172 is secured to the back edge of the chute 36, and

extends rearwardly from said chute. The

front edge of the plate 172 forms the back side of the upper portion of the passage 133, and such edge extends above the level of the junction between the front edge or side of said passa e and the rear end of the bottom or track 1 1, so that the rings 2, after being fed downwardly into the passage 170 and onto said track, and rolling rearwardly, 1 are received against said edge of said plate sage 133.

and thereby directed downwardly into said passage 133, or, in other words, the course of said rings is interrupted by the upper projecting part of said plate, and said rings are thereb caused to descend into said pastions of said plate which are behind said part extend into the space between the discs 168, as also does the back portion of the member that forms the front side of the he part of the late 17 2, of which "mention has just,been ma e, and other porupper .portion of the passage 133 and the rear portion of the track 171, thus locating the upper end of the passage 133 between said discs. has just been made is indicated by the numeral 173. The member 173, in addition to forming the front side of the upper portion of the passage 133, serves as a bridge over which the rlngs roll in their course from the passage 170 to the passage 133, the top of said membe being a continuation or part of the track 171. The vertical rings in the passage 170 roll downwardly and rearwardly out of said passage and in between the discs 168 without being permitted to topple over or assume other than a vertical position, due to the fact that the rear end of said passage is so close to the peripheries of the discs 168. The annular space between the discs 168 is of the required depth and width to receive the rings, and as said discs and the disc 169 revolve they tend constantly to direct and urge said rings downwardly into the passage 133.

Each feed roll 162 consists of a hollow cylinder provided with a lurality of springpressed, radial pins 174 which project through openings in said cylinder. Each pin 17 4 has a shoulder 175 inside of the roll cylinder to limit the outward movement of said pin, and there is a spring 176 interposed between such shoulder and the hub of the roll, said pin and said hub being provided with the customary centering and engaging members for the spring. The sprin s 176 normally retain the plns 174 in their projected positions, when said pins protrude some distance beyond the outer surface of the cylinder or drum, but, as the roll revolves and said pins encounter obstructions, said springs yield and permit said pins to move inwardly until the obstructions are passed, when said springs thrust said ins outwardly again to their full extent. @he pins 174 agitate the rings 2 in the hopper 44 and assist in carrying said rings downwardly into the passage 170. It is durin this operation and when the rings become unched together, or otherwise dlsposed so as to afford material resistance to the pins 174, that said pins are momentarily forced inwardly.

Secured to the right-hand side of the chute 36 is a horizontal, protrudin bracket 180, such bracket extending beyon the front and back edges of said chute, and ivotally connected at 181 with the protru ing terminals of said bracket are downwardly-extending locating arms 182 and 183, the latter being in front of the former. At the base of each of the arms 182 and 183 is a jaw 184. The arms 182 and 183 and the supporting parts therefor are so constructed that the jaws 184, after passin throu h suitable recesses in the front and ack e ges or sides of the chute 36, present approximately vertical,

The member of which mention ring-engaging edges in the passage 133, whloh edges are in contiguity with the inner end of the plug head 131. The manner in which the chute 36 is cut out inorder to enable the jaws 184 to enter the slot 133 from opposite edges thereof and have the required amount of play or movement, is clearly shown at 185-485 in Fig. 19. The arms 182 and 183 are actuated towardeach other by means of a spring 186 which has its ends attached at '187-187 to said arms. The inward movement of each of the arms 182 and 183 is limited by ahorizontal bolt 188 which is tapped into and through a lug 189 (Fig. 19) secured on the righthand side'of the arm, whereby said bolt is located in position to engage with its inner end the contiguous edge of the chute 36. Each bolt 188 is provided with a set-nutv .190 to lock the same in place "after adjustment. By means of the'bolts 188, the arms 182 and 183 are so adjusted as to permit a ring ofany given size to be received between the adjacent edges of the jaws 184. The arm 123 is offset, as shown at 202 in Fig. 19, to clear the expander 177, and to accommodate the spindle with its ring when said spindle is advanced into engagement with said expander.

In the lower part of the passage 133 is a locating slide 191. This slide has a tailpiece 192 that extends downwardly through the table 5 and a 'boss' 19 3 which depends from'said table. The tail-piece: 192 is screw- & threaded to receive a nut 194 beneath the boss 193. A spring 195 is received in a recess 196 in the table 5 through which the tail-piece 192' extends, and said spring normally retains the slide 191 in its elevated position with the nut 194 against the underside of the boss 193, but said spring may yield and permit said slide to be forced downwardly. By screwing the nut 194 up or down on the tail-piece 192 the normal elevation of the slide 191 is decreased or increased accordingly, whereby said slide may be adapted to rings of different sizes. The upper part of the slide 191 is below the jaws 184 and in contiguity with the inner end of the plug head 131, and the top edge of said slide is shaped to receive'a ringand hold the same against the contiguous end of the plughead 131, substantially as shown in Fig. 20. The ringengaging edges of the jaws 184 also are similarly shaped or formed.

Each ring 2, when it arrives at the jaws 184, passes between the same and comes to rest on the upper edge of the slide 191. The ring is thus supported from below-and in front and behind, the support being peripheral and of a nature to locate the ring with its axis in line with the axis of the plunger 125. Thus the ring is in the proper position to receive any spindle advanced at carriage flange 82.

the receiving station. After the spindle receives the ring andthe plunger 125 has been operated partially to expand the split portion of said. spindle, the latter is retracted and carries'with it the ring, the movement being to the left. This forces the ring from its position on the slide 191 and between the jaws 184,01 withdraws saidring from the engagement therewith of said jaws andslide. This withdrawal is made pos sible by the presence of the springs 186 and 195, the former .yielding to permit the ring to be withdrawn from between the jaws 184, and the latter yielding to permit the ring to be drawn over or forced by the upwardly-projecting edge portion of the top of the slide 191. As soon as the ring is withdrawn by the spindle, the springs 186 and 195 act to restore the jaws 184 and the slide 191 to their former positions in readiness to receive another ring. The expansive force-exerted on the ring by the spindle, after the action of the plunger 125 has taken place, is sufficient to hold the ring securely in place on the spindle while said ring is being Withdrawn from the locating arms and slide.

Having one terminal securely attached by means of nuts or otherwise to the rear end of the arm 109 is a horizontal rod 197. The rod 197 extends to the right from the arm 109, passes through a suitable opening in the forwardly-extending part of the upright 38, behind the chute 36, and through a suitable opening in" an arm 198 which is se curely attached tothe right-hand side of said chute. The rod 197 is caused to be i'eciprooated, slidingin the arm-198 and the upright 38, with and by the carriage 65, inasmuch as the arm 109 is attached to the g A ring-feed finger 199 extends forwardly from the rod 197 at the right of the arm 198, and is bent to the left and into parallel relationship with said rod. This parallel part is sharpened at its free end, and extends through an opening in' the arm 198 into a transverse passage 200 1n the chute 36, wherein said part operates. There is a transverse opening '201 in the plate or cover 134 of the chute, which opening is in line with the passage 200. The

axes of the passage 200 and the opening 201, if continued to meet each other, would pass through the center of the passage 133 between the front and rear edges thereof. Extending forwardly and downwardly from the r0d197, at the left of the chute 36, and then to the right is a sharpened, ring-feed finger203; The finger203 extends into and operates in an opening 204 in the cover 134 and a passage 205 in the chute 36, said opening and passage being in line with each other, and below and in the same vertical plane with the opening 201 and the passage 200.

moving As the rod 197 reciprocates the rings 2 in the passage 133 are fed downward. On to the right the rod 197 carries the nger 203 through the axial center of the adjacent ring 2 in the passa e 133, and the feed finger 199 out of the ad'acent ring '2 in said passage, said feed lingers then being positioned and located substantially as best showngin Fig. 20; and in moving to the left said rod carries said finger 203 out of the ring through which said lastnamed finger extends, and said finger-199 through the .next ring'abov'e. The results produced by the reciprocation of the fingers 199 and. 203 will presently be explained more in detail.

As illustrated in Figs. 19, 21, and 22, a post 206 is set in a base block 207 which is placed on'and secured to the table 5 adjacent to the left-hand rear corner of the chute 36. Affixed to the post 206 above the base 207 is a horizontal, supporting bar 208 which is at right-angles to the chute-36. A

feed

trip 209 has its rear end mounted on and lpivotally connected at 210 with the leftand end of the bar or support 208. The trip 209 is made angular, or has a bend therein, adjacent to the right-hand end thereof to form what may be termed a cam projection 211 on the front side of said trip, and on the back side of said trip is. a

rearwardly-extending lug 212. Rising from and rotatably connected with the right-hand terminalofthe support 208 is a post 213,.

which post is, supported at the top byan arm 214 having its left-hand end mounted on and rigidly secured to the top of the post 206, and provided at the right-hand end with ,a vertical screw 215 to engage the upper terminal of the post 213. The post 213 is thus rotatably mounted between the support 208 and the arm 214. Secured to the post 213,'adjacent to the upper terminal of said post, is an arm 216 which is provided Y with a ring-feed finger 217. The arm 216 is located on the side of the ost 213 that is adjacent to the cover 134, an the finger 217 is on the right-hand side of said arm adjacent to the forward terminal thereof, and in position to enter an opening 218 in said I cover, such opening being directly below the opening 204 in said cover. The finger 217 is of suflicient length to extend across the passage 133 after passing through the openmg 218,, when t e arm 216 is approximately parallel with the cover 134. A

A spring 219 has one terminal attached to the post -206jand the other terminal attachedto the rear end" of the arm 216, and normally retains said arm with the finger 217 incontending to the left tact with the right-hand side of the passage 133. The post213'ha's a trip finger 220exv therefrom into-the path of the'lu 212. I

The trip 209 is directlybehind the leading-terminal portion of a spindle at the receiving station, but out 'of contact therewith or the path thereof. The cam projection 211 ofthe trip 209 is, however, in the path of a ring 2 mounted on the aforesaid terminal of thespindle at the receiving station or the rearmost spindle. Consequently when the spindle is retracted the ring carried thereby encounters the projection 211, and swings the trip 209 rearwardly on its pivot 210. The lug 212 is carried rearwardly with the trip 209 and actuates the finger 220 in the same direction, and thus causes the post 213 to be partially rotated, and the arm 216, which is rigidly connected with said post, to be actuated, against the resiliency of the spring 219, to an extent suflicient to withdraw the finger 217 from the passage 133, but not far enough to withdraw said finger from the o ening 218. As soon. as the ring carried by t e rearmost spindle passes away from the trip 209, the spring 219 acts to restore the parts to their former positions, with the fin er 217 across the passage 133, and the pro ection 211 in the path of the next ring taken by the next spindle to arrive at the receiving station.

The rings 2. are fed downwardly at the lower terminal of the passage 133 in the following manner, assuming that there is a ring on the locating slide 191 between the locating arms 182 and 183, a ring suspendeded from the finger 217, and the remaining rin s resting upon the ring that is suspended rom said finger and upon each other upwardly to the top of the passa e 133: The bottommost'ring is withdrawn y the rearmost s indle from the locatingvmembers for said ring, and causes the finger 217 to be withdrawn from its supporting relationship to the next succeeding ring, which latter immediately drops into the position formerly occupied by said first-named ring. As soon as the ring drops from the finger 217 the ring above drops onto the finger 203 and all the rings above that descend therewith. While the finger 203 is still moving to the left, the finger 217 resumes its former position and passes through what is now the second ring ust above the bottom thereof, so that, b the time said finger 203 moves far enougn to the left to disengage said ring and permit the same to drop, the finger 21 is in position to. receive said ring when it drops and su port it at the top in readiness to be droppe subsequently into spindle-receiving position. When the ring dro from the finger 203 the ring above is caug t on the finger 199 and supported with the rings above on and by said finger. Upon the movement of the fingers 199 and 203 to the ri ht, the ring sus ended from the finger 199 rops from said lfinger, as the latter passes out of engagement therewith, and de1 scends with the rings abov onto the ring supported by the finger 217, the finger 203 meanwhile having passed to the right through the axial center of the ring that is now resting on that which is supported from the finger 217. Thus by a step by-step movement the rings in the passage 133 are fed to the locating members at the receiv ing station.

In the event the spindle at the receiving station fail for any reason to take on a ring, the trip 209 is unaffected by the retraction of said spindle, and the finger 217 blocks the passage 133 and prevents another ring from descending, until the trip 209 or the arm 216 is actuated to withdraw said finger from said passage. Thus the finger 217 and the parts and members connected and closely associated with the same serve as a safety device or medium as Well as a feeding element.

Having special reference to Figs. 1, 8, and 25 to 32, inclusive, the ring-setting mechanism will now be described.

Mounted and securely bolted or otherwise aifixed to the slide 148 is a box 221 having therein a ring spacer 222. In the right-hand side of the box 221 is a horizontal slot 223 which is in the same horizontal plane with .the axis of the spacer 222. The box 221 is at the left of the bar 150 and in contact with the left-hand edge of said bar. The spacer 222 is for spacing the rings apart longitudinally on their axes when placed on the bobbin head I. A spacer plate 224 is set into a horizontal slot in the left-hand end of the ring setter guide 152, and is secured in said slot by means of a vertical pin 225. The left-hand edge of the plate 224 is receivable in the slot 225 in the box 221. A ring setter 226 is slidingly arranged in the left-hand end or head of the guide 152, said sett'er extending transversely of said guide or longitudinally in said head, the latter being longer than the guide is wide. The bolt 146,

after passing upwardly through openings provided to receive the same in the trip bar 144, the spacer block 147, the slide 148, the spacer block 149, and the bar 150, and through the slot 151 in the guide 152, has

mounted thereon above said guide a washer- 227, and two nuts 228, the upper nut serving as a set-nut. The nuts 228 are not screwed down so tigl'itly onto the washer 227 as to cause the latter to bind on the guide 152 with sufficient force to prevent said guide from being moved longitudinally 011 the bar 150. The bar 150 is rigidly secured to the slide 148 and serves both as a support and a guide for the ring-setter guide 152. The longitudinal edges of the base of the slide 148 are inclined downwardly and outwardly and re,- ceived between a guide flange 229 and angib 230, the former-being on the table 5 behind said base, and the latter on said table in f ont of aid ba e. Vertical gib bolts 231 and horizontal gib bolts 232 are provided for the gib 230 as usual. Mounted on the table 5 in front of the box 221 and the slide 152 is a bar 233 having therein a camslot 234, the left-hand portion of said slot being adjacent to the head (235) of the guide 152. Depending from the bar 233 at the rear edge thereof and to the left of the box 221 is a lug 236, and pivotally connected at 237 with said lug is a pawl 238. A spring 239 is arranged between the left-hand terminal, which is the tail-end, of the pawl 238, and the bar above, normally to retain the upper edgeof said pawl, forward of the vertical plane of the pivot 237, in contact with the underside of the bar 233; From the aforesaid upper edge the pawl 238 extends downwardly and then to the right to provide an operating beak for engagement with a ratchet-wheel 240 secured to the front terniinal of the spacer 222. The ratchet-wheel 240 is at the front end of the box 221. The pawl 238 moves only on its pivot 237, while the ratchet-wheel 240 is carried bodily to the right and left with the slide 148. Said pawl is in the path of the ratchet-wheel 240, and causes the latter to be rotated each time the same is carried into contact with said pawl, which occurs every time the slide 148 is moved to the left. The ratchet-wheel 240 is provided with six teeth, one of which encounters the pawl 238, each time the, slide 148 is retracted, and one-sixth of a revolution is thus imparted to the spacer 222 by said pawl. At this time the pawl 238 is rocked downwardly on the pivot 237, against the resiliency of the spring 239, by the tooth which follows that engaged by said pawl, a suflicient distance to enable the latter, when the slide 148 is next advanced and the ratchet-wheel 240 moved out of engagement with the pawl, to be positioned by said spring in readiness to engage the next tooth upon the succeeding retraction of said slide. The frictional engagement between the spacer 222 and its bearing parts is sufficient to prevent backlash.

The ring spacer 222 is provided with three sets ofcontaeting faces, such faces in each set being indicated by the numerals 241, 242, and 243. Each face 241 is more remote from the axis of the spacer 222 than is each face 242, and each of the latter is more remote from said axis than is each of the faces 243. These contact faces sequentially engage the plate 224 which projects through the slot 223 in the box 221. Since the plate 224 is attached to the guide 152, and said guide is slidingly arranged on the bar 150, and provided with'the slot 151 to accommodate the bolt 146, said guide is advanced farther, when the slide 148 is advanced, by either contact face 241 than it is by either contact face 242, and is advanced the least distance by either contact face 243. By this means 

